Wednesday & Christmastide
THE PREPARATION
The Lord almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end. Amen.
Our help is in the name of the Lord
Who made heaven and earth.
A period of silence follows, for reflection on the past day. Words of penitence may be used; the following or some other.
Most merciful God,
we confess to you,
before the whole company of heaven
and one another,
that we have sinned in thought, word and deed,
and in what we have failed to do.
Forgive us our sins,
heal us by your Spirit
and raise us to new life in Christ. Amen.
Or:
Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal:
have mercy on us.
O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and shall be forever.
Amen. [Alleluja! (Omitted in Lent)]
A HYMN may be sung, the following or some other.
Before the ending of the day,
Creator of the world, we pray
That you, with steadfast love, would keep
Your watch around us while we sleep.
From evil dreams defend our sight,
From fears and terrors of the night;
Tread under foot our deadly foe
That we no sinful thought may know.
Ordinary Doxology
O Father, that we ask be done
Through Jesus Christ, your only Son;
And Holy Spirit, by whose breath
Our souls are raised to life from death. Amen.
Christmas Doxology
Lord Jesus, King of heaven and earth:
We praise you for your virgin birth;
You are the Father’s only Son,
With God the Spirit, ever one. Amen.
THE WORD OF GOD
THE PSALMODY
From PSALM 31
| 1 | In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge; let me never be put to shame;* deliver me in your righteousness. |
| 2 | Incline your ear to me;* make haste to deliver me. |
| 3 | Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe,* for you are my crag and my stronghold; |
| 4 | for the sake of your name,* lead me and guide me. |
| 5 | Into your hands I commend my spirit,* for you have redeemed me, Lord God of truth. |
| 6 | I will rejoice and be glad because of your mercy;* for you have seen my affliction; you know my distress. |
| 7 | I have put my trust in you, O Lord.* I have said, ‘You are my God. |
| 8 | ‘Make your face to shine upon your servant,* and in your loving-kindness save me.’ |
| 9 | How great is your goodness, O Lord,* which you have laid up for those who fear you; |
| 10 | Blessèd be the Lord!* for he has shown me the wonders of his love. |
| 11 | Love the Lord, all you who worship him;* the Lord protects the faithful. |
| 12 | Be strong and let your heart take courage,* all you who wait for the Lord. |
The psalm may end with:
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and shall be forever.
Amen. [Alleluja! (Omitted in Lent)]
THE READING: one of the following or some other.
Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that in due time you may be exalted. Cast all your anxieties on God, who cares about you.
1 Peter 5. 6-7
Or:
In him was life and the life was the light of all. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1. 4-5
Or on feasts of the BVM:
Mary said, Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.
Luke 1. 38
THE RESPONSORY may be said.
Into your hands, O Lord,
I commend my spirit. (Alleluia! Alleluia!)
Into your hands, O Lord,
I commend my spirit. (Alleluia! Alleluia!)
For you have redeemed me, Lord God of truth.
I commend my spirit. (Or: Alleluia! Alleluia!)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
Into your hands, O Lord,
I commend my spirit. (Alleluia! Alleluia!)
Keep me as the apple of your eye.
Hide me under the shadow of your wings.
THE GOSPEL CANTICLE: NUNC DIMITTIS (39)
| R: | Save us,* O Lord, while waking, and guard us while sleeping, that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep may rest in peace. |
| Or, in Christmastide: | |
| R: | Alleluia!* The Word was made flesh, alleluia! and dwelt among us. Alleluia! Alleluia! |
| Or, on feasts of the BVM: | |
| R: | Blessèd are you, Mary,* the Lord is with you, through you we received our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. |
| Or, on other feasts: | |
| R: | Grant us your light, O Lord,* that the darkness of our hearts being overcome, we may receive the true light, even Christ our Saviour. |
| 1 | Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace:* your word has been fulfilled. |
| 2 | My own eyes have seen the salvation* which you have prepared in the sight of every people; |
| 3 | A light to reveal you to the nations* and the glory of your people Israel. Luke 2. 29-32 |
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and shall be forever.
Amen. [Alleluja! (Omitted in Lent)]
The refrain is repeated by all.
THE PRAYERS
Intercessions and thanksgivings may be offered here, or at any point in this section.
THE COLLECT: one of the following or some other.
Visit this house, O Lord, we pray,
drive far from it all the snares of the enemy;
may your holy angels dwell with us
and guard us in peace
and may your blessing be always upon us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Or:
Lighten our darkness,
Lord, we pray;
and in your mercy defend us from all perils
and dangers of this night;
for the love of your only Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Or, in Christmastide:
We give you thanks, O God,
for the gift to the world of our Redeemer;
as we sing your glory at the close of this day,
so may we know his presence in our hearts,
who is our Saviour and our Lord,
now and for ever. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER may be said.
[As we come to the ending of the day,
let us pray as our Redeemer has taught us:]
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
[For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.] Amen.
A devotional ANTHEM may be sung here, or after the blessing.
THE BLESSING
In peace, we will lie down and sleep;
For you alone, Lord, make us dwell in safety.
Abide with us, Lord Jesus,
For the night is at hand and the day is now past.
As the night-watch looks for the morning,
So do we look for you, O Christ.
[Come with the dawning of the day
And make yourself known
in the breaking of the bread.]
May the love of the Word made flesh enfold us,
his joy fill our lives,
his peace be in our hearts;
and the blessing of God be with us
this night and always. Amen.